Quincy chosen for alcohol retailing program

At least 30 Quincy retailers will participate in a program starting in March that aims to reduce alcohol sales to minors.

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The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

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Posted Feb. 27, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Updated Feb 27, 2014 at 5:40 PM

Posted Feb. 27, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Updated Feb 27, 2014 at 5:40 PM

» Social News

At least 30 Quincy retailers will participate in a program starting in March that aims to reduce alcohol sales to minors.

The Responsible Retailing Forum, a national nonprofit, has chosen Quincy for its six-month program meant to help restaurants, liquor stores and other alcohol-selling establishments prevent their staff from selling alcohol to customers under 21.

Between 30 and 40 liquor-license holders in Quincy will be selected at random to take part in the program, which involves a self-assessment of checking IDs and refusing service and being subject to compliance checks.

“Helping licensees to better comply with our alcohol laws is in everyone's best interest,” Quincy Police Lt. Peter Turowski, the city’s liquor inspector, said in a prepared statement. “Law enforcement has a role, but we know from experience that everyone in the community has an important role in dealing with the problem of illegal sales to minors. I’m glad that the Responsible Retailing Forum chose to work in our city, and that our community is working together to keep our teens safe.”

The compliance checks will be carried out by a group of “mystery shoppers,” young, legal-age inspectors between the ages of 21 and 24. Most retailers generally ask their staff to check IDs for anyone who appears to be under 30.

Brad Krevor, founding director of the nonprofit, said the results of the compliance checks at individual retailers will be kept confidential, but the combined data will be shared with other retailers.

The program, set to start in March, will compare Quincy’s results to another Massachusetts community that will serve as a “control community.” The research project also includes a second pair of Massachusetts communities, as well as two pairs of communities each in California, Texas and Wisconsin.